Entrance Fee

AllisonR · #1 09-02-2012, 03:28 PM

This is more a rant than anything else, but I do want to hear other peoples opinions. I just finished a show with 40 other artists. A small messe you could call it. There was an expensive Booth fee. However the booths and building were very professional, all black, we were all given black wiring to match, reasonable size, neat signs for everyone....

However, AFTER we paid we found out there was a 50kr (10 dollar) entrance fee per person, plus another 25kr (5 dollars) for the catalog. Figure that is normally 2 people together, plus a catalog is going to be 125 kr (25 dollars) just by walking in. This is during a huge festival, so lots of people, but also lots of other cheap or free events. And no free tickets given to galleries, other art organizations...

I think this fee brought our expected public down to only 20% of what it should have been. I saw people wave their hands and walk away from the doors. For that money, people think "I can buy a few beers at the festival" or "I can go to the art museum". Most of the few who came through were aged 65+ and dragging a spouse and interested in how we painted something and how much we paid for the booth. In other words, artists, want to be artists, just retired sunday painters, or friends of the other artists.

The people responsible for the show said this is how they made their money, and that if people are serious about art, they will pay. That if it was free, all the regular people would come in, and want to use the toilet. My reply was yes, all the regular people are the ones that buy, not the other artists. If people are serious about art, they will go to the museum, and if they are willing to pay it is because they are artists themselves and are interested in seeing what other artists are doing. Which is fine and dandy, but typically not useful for sales.

What we need is the normal, average public to come in, and they want to come in for free. The average person isn't out shopping for art, but if they come in, see something they like, then they think about it, go home, and come back two weeks later with their spouse, and then buy. But we missed this whole market, because the only people that came were other artists, or wanna be artists.

All the semi-professional and professional artists at the show were shocked at how dead the show was, and we only hope that the few people that did come will follow up later. We are actually now getting together to plan our own event, which will cater to the market we paint for. Say 30-50 year olds with average+ income.

Bringer · #2 09-02-2012, 04:18 PM

Did people have to pay to use the toilet?

BitsOfNature · #3 09-02-2012, 07:02 PM

That is quite unprofessional of the organizers to not disclose that there was going to be an admission fee -- I'd be pretty miffed as well, and steer clear of that organizer in the future. Yes, putting together a nice venue is expensive and time-consuminge, but it is more expensive to be out of business when no one will work with you again.

Regards,
Dale

P.S. I was able to visit your gorgeous country this summer and had a marvelous experience -- care to sponsor me to be your patron to come back? Kind of a reverse patron?

**Greg Long** · #4 09-02-2012, 07:09 PM

Allison, Look on the bright side, in future you will remember to check on these things before signing up. Most events like this do charge an entry fee at the door, but most also give the participants a certain number of complimentary passes for their guests/buyers/galleries.

CSForest · #5 09-03-2012, 02:52 AM

I can relate. I recently did a festival that, believe it or not, was run by an organization whose mission it was NOT to advertise the event. Yes, I'm serious. Their mission was to encourage word-of-mouth, face-to-face "advertising" in the digital age. They didn't have a website, sharing on FB was discouraged, etc. Ok, fine. I think that's a silly mission in the digital age where kids have sleep-overs so they can sit next to each other on the same bed and text each other, but whatever. It was super cheap to participate so what the heck. But what really got me miffed was when I found out they charged to park. Huh?!!! Here's an event you don't advertise before-hand. You just post a few signs outside saying "festival today, stop by!" basically! Of course, no one driving by has a clue what the festival is about since it wasn't advertised! So you really, really need to allow people to just drop in and see what's going on. So passers-by pull in, spur of the moment, just to see what it's about and find they have to pay to park before they even know what they're parking for??! How many people do think would pay for that? I sure wouldn't! Needless to say, the event was DEAD! The only cars in the lot were the other vendors. So stupid! I was so mad. It was a 2 day event and, after the first day, I did not return for the second day.

timelady · #6 09-03-2012, 02:53 AM

Most events here charge a fee too, though it can be anything from £2 - £20 depending on the venue. BUT the artists do know beforehand that this is part of the structure of the show.

I would actually disagree that the average public is our target market. You want people who are looking for art, appreciate art, and want art. These people generally have the money to buy, and have the money and motivation to pay to get into a good event in order to look. I don't think artists are the ones who usually come to a paid event, so that doesn't sound like it was the entry fee as an issue. Sounds to me like the organisers only advertising to the artist community and not the general art buying (or average public) media. A far bigger problem than the entry fee.

Tina.

Freesail · #7 09-03-2012, 10:02 AM

There is an event held at Christmas time under a huge tent which charges admission. The show last for an entire month! It has been held for at least 20 years and is very well attended. They even have a waiting list for vendors who want to do the show. I guess it really helps to know your show organizers.

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